The story behind The Yes Day
The Yes Day began one afternoon when Bella and I were working on a few projects together. I asked her a simple question about one of them and reminded her that some of the things we were talking about might be expensive.
Bella immediately piped up, “I had a Yes Day!”
I looked at Chris, her father, and asked what she meant. Chris explained that a Yes Day was a day when Bella could choose what the family would do. And the funny—and wonderful—part was that her very first request had nothing to do with buying anything at all. Bella wanted to spend the whole day in her pajamas, curled up with her parents, watching movies.
That moment stayed with me. A Yes Day was not really about getting things. It was about being heard, making a choice, and discovering that something simple could feel special. From that conversation, The Yes Day began to take shape: a story about helping children build confidence one small, brave yes at a time.
The book and the 90-Day Challenge grew from that same idea—to give families a way to turn everyday choices into something children can see, practice, and celebrate.